Chemical loop drier conveyer



Filed May 5, 1950 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. S, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALIPHEUS O. HURXTHAL,OF PHILADEL1HIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T PROCTOR & SGHWAR'IZ, IN'CORPORA'IEZD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORAIION OF PENNSYLVANIA CHEMICAL LOOI DRIER CONVEYER Application filed 1Iay 3, 1930.

This invention relates t0 a conveyer, for

i plastic materials, of the same general character as shown and deseribed in my prio1 llnited States Letters Patent N0. 1,772,423,

- dated August 5, 1930.

The present invention relates t0 a conveyer especially adapted for use with those plastic materials Wlii0h, as they are passed through a drying er 0ther processing apparatus, have a tendency to shrink in volume.

The principal object of the present invention is t0 construct the Walls of the materialcarrying openings of the conveyer in a manner to prevent the shrunken material frorn falling therefrom.

Another object Of the invention is to in crease the mechanical strength and the capacity 0f this type of conveyer, by increasing the thiclmess 0f the conveyer.

This type 0f cenveyer is adapted f0r genera1 conveying purposes with plastic materials, and Particularly for use in conveying plastic-niaterial through a drying apparatus,

of the general type disclosed in my prior nited States Letters Patent N0. 1,777,972,

dated October 7, 1930.

I have found that when the thickness of the conveyer is increased the tendency 0f the plastic materialto be forced 0ut of the conveyer, as the loaded conveyer is being formed -into loops in die drier, increases proportionatel-y. This condition I have minimized by the peculiai construction 01 the conveyer forming the eubject 0f the present invention,

and which will be fully disclosed hereinafter,

referenee being had to the accompanying drawings, 0f which:

Fig.1 is a plan view of a conveyer made in accordance Wi'th the principles of 1ny invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22, Fig. l;

' Fig. 3 isv a transverse section taken on the line 33, F ig. 1;

y Fig. 4 is a sectional viewsimilar t0 Fig. 3, y

eut showing the conveyer as being loaded with material in a plastic state;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig 1, but showing the material in a shrunken state;

Serial N0. 449,616.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 77, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view 0f another modification 0f the invention;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 99, Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevation 0f the conveyer shown in F igs. 1 and 2 as it passes around an extruding roll;

Figs. 11 t0 15 inclusive illustrate various modifications of wall construction for the apron units.

The conveyer shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises a plurality of U-shaped link elements 013 units 1. Eacli 0f the conveyer elements 1 comprises a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal side 1ne1nbers 2, 2 connected at one end only by a transverse end mernber 3.

The innen face 0f each of the side members 2 is concaved as indicated at 4, while the outer face of each of said members is eonvexed as indicated at 5, see Fig. 3.

The innen face 0f the end member 3 is like- Wise concaved as indicated at 6 and the outer face 015 this mernber is convexed as shown at 7, see Fig. 2.

Adjacent the concavo-convex end member 3 0f each link element l the concavo-convex side members 2 a1e provided with pintle openings 9, while the free end 10 0f each 0f said side members 2 is provided with a pintle opening 11.

The link elements l are assernbled, t0 form the conveyer belt, in longitudinally extending rows in end t0 end relation to each other, the open end 0f one U-shaped element lying adjacent to.but spaced from the closed end of the next preceding Ushaped ele1nent, and the closed ends of the U-shaped elements of alternate longitudinal rows lying adjacent the open ends of the U-shaped elements of the adjacent rows, in a direction extending transversely of the assembled conveyer belt.

Thus the conveyer belt is composed of a pluraliq 0f individual units disposed in a,

plurality;of longitudinally extending rows alternate with intermediate spaces, the material-carrying space 15 within eacl1 unit having concaved Walls to hold the material therein, ancl the saicl intermediate spaces 16 having convexed Walls for the sa1ne Purpose, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The individual units 1 are pivotally Con- 7 nectecl together by transversely extending pintles 1 1 which pass through the pintle Openings 11 in the freie encls 0f one unit and through theopenings 9 at Ehe closed en0l 0f the next transversely acljacent unig across the entire Width of the conveyer, the outer sides of the intermediatespaces16 0f the outer longitudinal rows being closecl by elosure plates 20, 20, as shown in F ig. l.

Upon referring to the draWings, especially Fig'. 3, it will be notecl that theconvexecl surfaces 0f acljoining links a're in abutting relation to each other alon g the pivot llne betWeen the transversely exte'ncling intercon neetecl rows 0f umts Wh1 :h reduces the fr1c-.

- tional bearing surfaces between Ehe IOWS to a 1 practi-cally 11egligible and, therefore, is of n0 ing operations.

minimum 'and provides for selfclearing of -the conveyer ab these part1cular p01nts as w1ll be more fully described here1nafter.

Affier tl1e conveyer belt has been loaded witli the plastie 1naterial t0 be treatecl, f0r the purppse 0f illustration I Will define thistreatment as adry1ng p1ocess wlnch conver ts the materiztlfrom a plast1c to a 1n01e or less bmttle state'the conveyer belt may bejfiexecl in a lont0 extrucl'e the material -from the spaces at V eithef sicle of ehe end members.

In the thicker=type of conveyer as disclosed herein, if'the endwalls 3 Were straight, as in the first 1nentioned copeningaPplication, there would be a decidecl tendency of these straight e i1dwalls a0 extrude the adj acent material from the openings 0f the conveyer. In the'thinner type of conveyer such tendency is conseque'snce. v

After the material has been reduced to its more 01" less brittlie state relative movement betWeen tl1e transverse r0Ws of units causes these very end Walls 3 t0 extru'de the material fr0m the operiings, the reas0n being thac the radius 'of thecurvature of'the end Walls iS v greater than the radius about wl1ich the Wall moves as tlfe Conveyeris bei'ng -flexd. F01

examplesuch flexing of the apron may be efieeted by being Lliaxlvnfofibftlie.loops in which the conveyef ling dnring the pr'0dese- As sh0Wn in Fig. "5, the malterial may disp'osecl.

The relative circular movenient between the abutt1ng convexecl Walls of the conveyer un1ts, at the pwot pomts. clears the conveyer 30 at these points of any niaterial adhering t0 *theWalls 0f the units at the pivot points, thus preventing any corrosion of the units atthese poinas as would be caused by a chemical ac sion set up by some kindsof piastic 1naterial" if the sa1ne were per1nitteclto remain 'on tho conveyer.

In orcler 150 remove the material fr0m the openings, Whi0h does not fall therefrom when relative fiexing of tl1e units is effectedf9o I pass the conveyer over a toothecl extruding roll 25, see Fig. 10,- the teeth 26 thereof entering fhe material-carrying cavities 15 and 16 of the c0nveyier and forcing the msiterial 1 out cf these openings in the manner substantially a's sh0wn in saicl figule.

In Figs. 6 ancl 7, I haveshown a nioclification'of the invention in Whieh each 0f the units 1072 compris es a c0mplese rectangnlar ele'ment consisting 0f oppositely dispose-cl sicles 2a, 2a, ancl oppositely disposecl end Walls 3a, 3a, which' when asselnbled'by pintles 14a forma colnplete conveyer having material-receiving openings 150; anal l6a. j The acti0n 0f this'tyne 0f conveyer is sub= stantially the sa1ne as the conveyer shown in Figs. 1 120-5.

In the m0clification shownin Figs. 8 and 9, the conveyer'is construtzted in the Same manner as in Figs. 1 5 with tne addition 0f" 110 supplementing transversely extencling bars 150 which pass throngh the'mateiial-oarr ing ca ioie's 15b, 16b 't'0 assist inholding the shrunke'n 1natrial therein. The extruding actionby thetoothed' roll 25 is cl arly sn0wi1 in Fig. 10; T a

Obviously, the side alls 0f the material- 3.eceivingqenings may b e of any of the cross-secfional forme 'shown in Figa 11 to 14 inclusive. F ron1 tne albove, it Will be obvious that by prodncing a conveyer apren having mateiialcarying operiings 0f Wl1ieh the Walls are disposed an either converging 0i divejrg-.

when shrunk n Will be rei;aihed wit hin Ehe cavities untilextruclecl therefronfby a felativ'e flexin"gaction between the units 0r by an extruding device, such as shown'in Fig.

10, 0r both.

The apron may also be subjectecl to a beating action, if desirecl, t0 replace the above methods cf removal 0f the material, or the beating action may 0c used as a supplement 150 such methecls lf clesirecl.

I claim:

l. A conveyer f0r plastic materials having substantially parallel faces ancl a plurality 0f mat rial-receiving openings extending through the .conveyer from one t0 the other 0f saicl faces thereof, the area 0f each opening varying at difl'erent plancs intermediate thc said faces cf the conveyer.

2. A conveyer lor plastic materials having subStantially parallel faces ancl a plurality of materialreceiving openings extending through the conveyer from one 130 the other 0f said faces thereof, the area. 0f each opening varying at clifferentplanes intermediate the said faces 0f the conveyer and the smaller areas cf at least sonne 0'f said openings bcing disposed adjrcent the saicl faces of the conveyer, while the larger areas of such openings are disposed intermecliate said faces.

3. A eonveyer f0r plastic materials hav ing substantially parallel faces ancl a plurality of material-receiving openings extencling through the conveyer from one t0 the other 0f said faces thereof, the area 0f each opening varying at different planes intermecliate the saicl faces 0f the conveyer and the larger areas of at least some of said openings being disposecl adjacent the saicl faces of the conveyer, While the smaller areas cf such openings are disposed intermecliate saicl faces.

4. A conveyer f01 plastic materlals having substantially parallel faces and a plurality of material-receiving openings extending through the conveyer from one t0 the other of said faces thereof, the area of each opening varylng als difierent planes intermecliate the said faces f the conveyer the smaller areas of sonne 0f saicl epenings being clisposed adjacent the said faces 0f the couveyer with the lar'ger areas 0f such cpenings disposecl intermediate said faces, ancl ehe remaining openings having their larger areas acljacent the said faces and their smaller a1eas intermecliate said faces.

5. A convcyer for nlastic materials having substantially parallel faces and a plurality 01": material-receiving openings extencling -through the convever from one 130 the other openings having their larger areas adjacent the said faces and their smaller areas intermediate said faces the openings inclucled in the first saicl group alternating with the openings includecl in the second said group.

6. A conveyer for plastic materials having substantially parallel faces and a plurality cf material-receiving openings extending through the conveyer from one 130 ehe 'other 0f said faces thereoi, the area 0f each opening varying a clifierent planes intermediate the said faces cf the conveyer the smaller areas 0f some 01. said openings being disposed adjacent the said faces 0f the conveyer with the larger areas 0f such openings disposed intermediate said faces, and the remaining opcnings having their larger areas acljacent the seid faces an l their smaller areas intermediate saicl faces the openings included in the first said group alternating in a direction longitudinally cf the conveyer with the Openin gs incluclecl in the second saicl g1oup. 7. A conveyer for plastic materials having substantially parallel faces ancl a plurality 0f material receiving openings extending through the conveyer fron1 one t0 the other cf said faces thercof, the area 0f each opening varying at cliflerent planes intermediate the saicl faces 0f the conveyer ehe smaller areas cf some 0f said. openings being disposed a'djacent the said faces cf t-he conveyer With the larger areas 0f such openings clisposed intcrmediat-e said faces, ancl the remaining openings having t-heir larger areas adjacent the saicl faces ancl their smaller areas intermediate saicl faces the openings included in the first said group alternat-ing in a direction transversely 0f the conveyer with the openings iucludecl in the seconcl said group.

8. A conveyer f01 plastic materials having substantially parallel faces and a plurality 0f material-receiving openings extending throuqh the conveyer fron1 one t-o the other 0f said faces thereof, the area of each opening varying als difle1*ent planes intermediate the saicl faces 0f the conveyer the smaller areas 0f soxne of said openings being disposed adjacent the said faces 0f the conveyer with the larger areas of such epcnings dlsposed intermediate said faces, and the remaining openings having their larger areas acljacent l he said faces ancl their smaller areas intermecliate said faces che openings included in the first said group alternating with the openings incluclecl in the second saicl group in directions longitudinally and transversely 0f the conveyer.

9. A conveyer for plastic materials having substantially parallel faces and a plurality cf materiahreceiving openings extending through the conveyer from one t0 the othefi cf said faces thereof, the area cf each opening varying at difi"erent planes intermediate the said faces 0f the conveyer, und means f0r extruding the material from said 0pen- 1ngs.

10. A'Conveyer fr plastic materials lhaving substantially parallel faces anal a plural ity of material-receiving openings extenrling through the conveyer from one to the other 0f said fa'ces thereof, t-he area 'of each opening varying at difierent planes inbermecliate 1Jl1'8 said faces of alle conveyer, anal means f0r ext'rudifiig the materialffom saicl openings 'c'omprlsi'ng an element having projections adaptecl to enter sai(l openings.

' 11. A conveyer f0r plast1c mater1als hav- "ir1g 'substantially parallel faces and a pluraling substantially parallel faces ancl a plural- 1;y of matenal-recewmgopemngs extenrhng through the conveyer fr0m one to the 0ther 0f saicl faces thereof, the area of each open- 111g varynig at d1fierenb plafles 1ntermecl1ate the saicl faces 0f the cohveyer, and rocls exte ncling through said op6nings t0 assist in retaining th e mateiial the1ein.

;13. A conveye'r f0r plastic materials having substantially parallel faces ancl a plurality 0f material-receiving openings extendlng through the vconveyer from one t0 the other f saicl faces thereof, thearea 0f ach open1ng 'varymg at d1f'l'erent planes 1112erniediate the saicl faces 0f the conveyer, r0cls extenc'l1ng through sa1d opemngs .t-o ass1st m retaining the matenal therem, and means for 'extrding the material' froin saicl openings comprising an element having projecfl;ions 1claptedto extencl into said openings between the saicl rorls fncl the Walls 0f tl1e openlngs.

14. A conveyerfor plastic materlals 020mprising a plurlity of pivotally corinectecl link felements hav ing concav0-corWex end Walls exiei1cl1ng transversely 0f tl1e conveyer.

15. A conveyer f0r plastic materials 30mprising a plurality 0f pivotally connectecl 'link 'element-s l1avmg ccncavo-convex end Walls xencling'transversely 0f th'e conveyer,

' the axes 0f the curvatures of saicl end Walls being spa'ccl apart from the connecting pivotslongituclinallj of the conveyer.

16. A convem=r for last1c maier1als com-.

prising a plurality ol pivotally connectecl link elements having concavo-convezr encl Walls"extencling transversely of the conveyer, fthe aXes 0f the' cnrvatures 01 said ecl Walls baing spac ecl apart from "(3110 COI 1I1GCII{" piyots longitudinally of tl1e c'orweyer aricl the V Cofcls f the segmentalatcs' f01nr'1ing said encl "\Vallbei ng disp0secl i1'1-planes substantially p'erpendimlar 130 th'e'* general plane 0f the 001'1- 17. A conveyer for plastic materials comprising a plurality of pivotally cohneetecl link elements having concaVo-conVex side members extencling lorigitudinally 0f the comveye'r witl1 alle convex surfa ies of adjacent link elements abutting at the connecting pivots.

18. A conveyer f0r plastic materials conm prising a plurality '0f pivotally connecced link elements having concavo-convex side members extending longitudinally 0-f the 0011- veyer withthe convex surfzices of adjacent link elements abutting at the connecting pivots and transversely extencling end members connecting tl1e said sicle rnembers of the link elemehts respectively;

19. A conveyer for plasti materials comprising a plurality 0f pivotally connected link elements having concavo-convex side members extending longitudina-lly of the conveyer with the convex surfaces of adjacent link elements abutting at th-e con necting pivo'ts an'd transversely extending concavo-conveX end members conn'ecting tha said sie members of the linkelement-s respectively.j

"20. A conveyer f01 plastic materials comprising a plurality of pivotally connected substantially U-sl1aped link elements each comprising a pair Cf substantially parallel concavo-convex side members ancl a concavoconvex end. member corinetzting said side m-embers at one end thereof.

21. A c'onveykar for plastic materials comprising a plurality 0f piv0tally connect-ed substantially U-shapecl linl; elements each comprising a pair 0f substantially parallel cohwvo=convex side members ancl a concavoconvex encl member connecting said side nlemsers at one end thereof, the saicl link elements being assemblecl in parallel longitudi- 11 al rows the open encls of the linlr elements 0f 0ne row lying adjacent tl1e closed ends 0f the link elements 0f adj acent 1OWS transversely 0f the 'c0nveyer. 7

22. A conveyer for plastic materials comprising a plurality 0f pivotally c'onnected substantially U-Shapecl link elements each comprising a pair o'fsubstanoially parallel. concavmconvex sich members and a concavo convex end member connecting said side n'aembers als one end th-e'reof, the said link elements being assemblecl in parallellongitudinal rows, the open ends f the link'elements the link elements of adjac ent rows transversely of the coi1veyer, and pintle5 extending transversely of the conveyer through the adjacently positioned ends '0fthe*link elements 0f all of saiol longitudinally extending rdws thereof. 7

23. A conveyr forplastic materials comprising a plurality of pivotally connectecl substantiellly 'U- shapecl link elenients each comprising a pairf of substantially Parallel concaVo-conveir siderhemb6r's arid a concavoconvex end member connecting said side members at one end thereof, the sa1d l1nk ele- 4nents being assemblecl in parallel longitudinal rows, the open ends of the link elements of. one row lying acljacent the closed ends of the link elements of adjacent r0ws transversely of the conveyer, and pintless extending transversely of the conveyer through the adjacently positioned ends of the link elements of all of saicl longitudinally extending rows thereof, the convex surfaces of the said acljacently positioneol link elements abutting at the pivots.

24. A conveyer f0r plastic materials comprising a plurality of pivotally connected substantially U-shaped link elements each comprising a pair of substantially parallel concavo-convex side members and a concavoconvex end member connecting said sicle members a1; one end thereof, the said link elements being assemblecl in parallel longitudinal rows, the open ends 0f the link elements 0f one row lying acljacent the closecl ends of ehe link elements of adjacent rows transversely of the conveyer, pintles extencling transversely of the conveyer through the adjacently positionecl enols 0f the link elements of all of said longitudinally extencling ro'ws thereof, ancl rods extending transversely of the conveyer intermediate the longitudinally spaced pintles.

ALPHEUS O. HURXTHAL. 

